1st
Kodiya Ethadhae
It has often been a neglected genre of music - Even I don’t consider the Gaana style song from Chennai to have anything high musically. But the core of this style is so not much the complexity of the music but its ability to sway you and its ability to touch you with some deep and meaningful lyrics that are simple and not necessarily poetic.
So, one fine Saturday evening in April (or May), as I was wandering through my studio, I turned on my keyboard and started playing around with a few drum loops…I was really in a mood to create just a simple beat. I didn’t really think of gaana songs. Suddenly, I hit upon a sound which I thought would be apt for this style. I spent probably another 30-45 minutes and came up with a structure for the beat. Once I was satisfied, I started playing around with my strings..with a chord..That’s how I hit upon the simple tune of ”Thanananae Thanananae Thannanannanae”..That simple tune inspired me to start writing some lyrics.
The first line I wrote ended up being the first line of the song - “Beach pakkam Arch pakkam Thoondil Podathae”..And I continued to dabble with my strings while I completed the lyrics..Once I completed the first set of lyrics, I suddenly felt that I had the complete structure of the song in my mind…so I continued writing 2 more sets..And I started singing in my microphone. My goal at that point was to write the song in Chennai Tamil..The whole “Lottery vikkum” bit was added towards the end because I thought the song sounded too monotonous.
Once I had the lyrics done, I started recording the vocal part of the song..It was recorded in less than 15 minutes. I was just recovering from bronchitis - so you can hear the extra vibration added to my voice due to some blocked pipes. After the vocal part was done, the fun actually began…The next 5 hours was sheer fun. I eventually got the song what I wanted, but I feel I could have done better in my mastering. Anyways, as I continue to learn all these techniques with no guidance, I know I am kind of walking in the dark. But I like this adventure.
Here are the lyrics:
“Beach pakkam Arch Pakkam Thoondil Podadhaey - Elliotts beach pakkam…
Thaechaa, Enna Thaecha -Paacha - Karappan Paacha
Machanukku Madura pakkam Rendu (2) acre
Pichi Pichu Eduthukinnu pona makkalu
Annanagarula Adayarula Auto Voodathaey!
Moonu kaalu kuruvi onnuKilaiyilae kundhichu
Moonu naala kulikkadha machan Thalaiyilae kundhichu
Aathukkullayum Oothukkullayum Thanniya Thedathaey!
Nethu Naanum Thothu
Pisthu Alwa Pisthu
Lottery vikkum Makkar machan Adicha quarter
Military Otella chicken thinnu adicha looty..
Paettaikulla Kottaikulla Kodiya Ethadhae!!”
